The owners of Dreamworld have announced a $62 million loss this financial year, just ten months after the Thunder River Rapids ride tragedy which killed four people.
The Gold Coast park reopened in December after a six week hiatus following the deaths of Kate Goodchild, Roozi Araghi, Luke Dorsett and Cindy Low last year.
The four adults were in a raft on the ride with two children when it collided with an empty raft that had become stuck on a conveyor belt.
The kids were flung to safety, but the adults landed on the belt. Two of them were crushed to death while the other two drowned in the water below.
The theme park has been beset with issues since, with profits plummeting as fewer families visit – despite slashed ticket prices and extended opening hours.
The owners of Dreamworld have announced a $62 million loss this financial year, just ten months after the Thunder River Rapids ride tragedy
The Gold Coast theme park took a huge financial hit when four people were tragically killed on the rapids ride (pictured). A raft flipped when it hit another raft stuck on the conveyor belt
‘The (financial) result was significantly impacted by the Dreamworld tragedy and the park’s subsequent shutdown for 45 days,’ parent company Ardent Leisure said in a statement.
Ardent Leisure said they had lost $95 million on the write-down of equipment and rides, as well as costs associated with the tragedy.
Last financial year, Ardent Leisure reported a net profit of $42.4 million – a staggering difference of $105 million.
Dreamworld is believed to have suffered a loss of $10million in the six weeks it was closed as a review of safety at the park was completed.
The park has also had issues with its rollercoasters stopping mid-ride.
Kate Goodchild (left), 32, and New Zealand expat Cindy Low (right), 42, were killed on the ride
Roozi Araghi (left) and his 35-year-old partner Luke Dorsett (right) also tragically died
The theme park has been beset with issues since, with profits plummeting as fewer families visit
In January – just a month after Dreamworld reopened following the four deaths at the park – one of the rides shut down, leaving park guests dangling 119m above ground.
Guests were left suspended in the air after an automatic sensor triggered a brief shutdown on The Giant Drop at the Gold Coast Park.
It was the first day the ride itself had been re-opened after the Thunder River Rapids horror.
In March, six terrified thrill-seekers were rescued from the Buzzsaw ride after they were left suspended high up in the air for half an hour.
Twelve people had to be freed from the same ride on April 14 after a safety sensor was triggered, bringing the ride to a halt.
Dreamworld’s parent company Ardent Leisure said they had lost $95 million on the write-down of equipment and rides, as well as costs associated with the tragedy
Empty: Dreamworld has seen huge drops in crowds since the tragedy, despite slashed ticket prices and extended opening hours